■ Wilson, Trevor, ed., 2006. Myanmar's Long Road to National Reconciliation. Singapore & Canberra: ISEAS & Asia Pacific Press. 320 pp. ISBN 9812303626
| Date | 01 January 2008 |
| Published date | 01 January 2008 |
| DOI | 10.1177/00223433080450010814 |
| Author | Timo Kivimäki |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
real issues have to be rectified by the Congolese
themselves, with the support of the international
community, not exclusively academics. The Congo
Wars does, though, provide an intriguing reference
for students, activists, academics and relevant
stakeholders to understand why the Congo is in its
current state and to establish likely strategies to
overcome its problems.
Mark Naftalin
䊏Wilson, Trevor, ed., 2006. Myanmar’s Long
Road to National Reconciliation. Singapore &
Canberra: ISEAS & Asia Pacific Press. 320 pp.
ISBN 9812303626.
The authors of this book are the ‘usual suspects’ of
Burma/Myanmar analysis. However, the writings
are less predictable and some arguments are slightly
more nuanced that in many other publications by
the same authors. The book goes from the analysis
of political developments – constitutional process
and military and ethnic high politics – to eco-
nomic perspectives and perspectives on national
reconciliation. Some of the analysis is more and
some less critical towards the military regime in
Burma/ Myanmar. Finally, conclusions on the way
ahead are drawn, based on political and economic
analyses, by two ‘moderates’, one Western
(Morten Pedersen) and one Burmese (U Myint).
The book contains several unexpected but very
well-informed descriptions of the recent trends in
the Myanmar leadership, especially by Robert H.
Taylor and Larry Jagan. It seems clear that more
information is available now than before on the
closed system of Myanmar administration. More
surprises are offered by some practitioners and
insiders of Burma/Myanmar development from the
NGO world. The fact that the contributions are not
ideolocally coherent gives the book a richness,
rather than being a source of confusion. The con-
cluding chapters of the book do not represent
the analysis of all of the authors, and many of the
authors would object to them. However, they
are derived from the information presented in the
book. The book supports engagement and critical
dialogue with Burma/Myanmar and argues that this
is a better strategy for democratization, as a response
to the extreme diff iculties that the isolated people
of Burma/Myanmar are faced with. All in all,
this book is a very timely, well-informed and
balanced collection of writings on a coherent
theme.
Timo Kivimäki
Authors of Book Notes in this issue:
Morten Bergsmo – PRIO
Kaja Borchgrevink – PRIO
Marit Brochmann – University of Oslo
Jørgen Carling – PRIO
Nils Petter Gleditsch – PRIO
Helge Holtermann – PRIO
Nikola Hynek – University of Bradford/Masaryk
University
Jørgen Jensehaugen – PRIO
Timo Kivimäki – Nordic Institute of Asian
Studies
Nicholas Marsh – PRIO
Mark Naftalin
Gudrun Østby – University of Oslo
Hilde Wallacher – PRIO
journal of PEACE RESEARCH volume 45 / number 1 / january 2008
126
Book Notes_JPR_121-126.qxd 12/14/2007 2:41 PM Page 126
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